Raging Rivers splashes into summer

GRAFTON - The scorching price of gasoline this spring has many residents scrambling to find ways to stretch their summer vacation dollars as they strive to beat the heat and entertain their families.

Raging Rivers WaterPark offers a daylong excursion without having to empty the wallet, said Larry Smith, president and general manager.

"Raging Rivers is the perfect summer getaway for families on a budget, and it offers something for everyone," he said. The park, he said, is "a great alternative to the expensive summer vacation."

The 28-acre water park will open Saturday, May 28.

Raging Rivers again is offering active military personnel and their families a discount off the already low admission prices. An active military identification card will give each member of the serviceperson's immediate family the chance to spend a full day at the park for only $11 plus tax per person throughout the 2011 season.

Normal admission is $16.95 for children under 48 inches tall and seniors 60 and older, $19.95 for adults and free for children under age 2. Guests arriving after 3 p.m. will save $5 on the price of each ticket.

Individual season passes are available for $75 each, and family passes cost $70 each when buying three or more. Season passes include free parking, one free ticket for a friend, and a 10 percent discount on all concession and gift shop purchases.

In its 22nd season, Raging Rivers offers the Runaway Rafts, a 600-foot long adventure through swift water and wild rapids to three pools; the Shark Slide flume, which floats riders down a 45-foot tunnel flume into a catch pool; the 500-foot dual Cascade Body Flumes that twist and turn down the natural hills and contours of the park; and a Swirlpool - a two-bowl attraction that takes riders down a tunnel flume, then swiftly into a giant vortex and ends by dropping the guest into a deep pool of water, incorporating three rides into one.

The park also features a 700-foot-long Endless River that lets riders float along at a 2.5-mph pace in a continuous loop; the 18,000-square-foot Breaker Beach Wavepool, which allows swimmers to relax when the waves are "off" and "ride the tide" when the 4-foot waves start to roll; and the "just for kids" Itty Bitty Surf City. Tree House Harbor is another interactive play area, featuring a crawl tunnel, overhead rope pulls and more.

Raging Rivers is open daily May 28 through June 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning Saturday, June 11, the park will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 7. From Aug. 8 through 21, Raging Rivers will return to its 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule. The park reopens for one last blast of summer Aug. 27 and 28 and Sept. 3, 4 and 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information regarding operating hours, attractions, specials, directions and more, call Raging Rivers at (618) 786-2345 or log on to www.ragingrivers.com. The water park is located at 100 Palisades Parkway off the Great River Road (Illinois Route 100) in Grafton. Raging Rivers WaterPark offers group and party packages that include special reserved group areas, on-site catering, food service and special group rates.